Oklahoma is considered to be loosely regulated in terms of homeschool laws. Oklahoma law does not require parents to register with or seek approval from state or local officials, conduct state testing with their students, or permit public school officials to visit or inspect homes.
If you want to start homeschooling and your child is not yet enrolled, you do not need to do anything.
If you want to start homeschooling during the school year and your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, you need to formally withdraw your child from that school.
If you are going to start homeschooling after the school year is over, and your child is considered enrolled for the following year, you should withdraw your child before the next school year begins, so that the school does not mark your child as absent or truant.
Some schools may have you sign a form that releases them from the responsibility of educating the student and also stating that you are assuming full responsibility for the education of your child.
The compulsory age to begin school is five, so children between the ages of 5 and 18 years old must attend school or comply with the homeschool laws. The state law says homeschoolers should school at least 180 days per calendar year, with at least six hours per day.
As an Oklahoma home educator, you have the freedom to choose the subjects, curricula, and educational methods that will guide your homeschool plans. Required school subjects under Oklahoma law include: reading, writing, math, science, citizenship, Oklahoma history, United States constitution, health, safety, physical education, and conservation.
While you do not have to be a certified teacher to homeschool, the instruction provided must be supplied in good faith and must be equivalent to the education provided by the state. Although not required by law, it is recommended that academic progress be recorded via attendance records, information on textbooks used, samples of schoolwork, portfolios, and test results.
If you are uncomfortable or unprepared to do the leg work to teach a particular subject, consider outsourcing it. This is particularly true for upper grades and advanced level work.
Schools are not required to furnish textbooks, resources, or other materials to home schooled students. They are also not required to allow student to participate in extracurricular activities. Homeschooled students are also not eligible to receive special education services from the school district.
Finally, homeschooled students are required to take a standardized test upon re-entry to the public school system to determine grade placement and / or course credits. However, the requirements are extremely stringent, and most public school officials will tell you that, if you intend to send the student to public high school, they should begin as a freshman. There have been many instances of students having to start their high school career anew as a freshman, so plan accordingly if at all possible.
Homeschooling is a big job! If you’re trying to be mom, wife, housekeeper, chauffeur, and teacher…you’re going to tucker out quickly. Homeschool planning can help you start off on the right foot!
Remember this, you can be flexible and creative with your schedule. There are as many different ways to homeschool as there are homeschooling families. Also, your home is not a school, and you don’t have to re-create school, so don’t be afraid to do what works for you!
You’ve heard the phrase, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Some folks may think they don’t need a planner (I’m guessing these folks are under 40), and truthfully, failing to plan may not be quite that bad, but it does mean forgetting important things. Maybe you’re a tech person, or maybe you prefer pen and ink, but find a planning method that works for you!
Start by outlining the year. Make a note in each month of birthdays, holidays, vacations, and any planned time off. This could include upcoming moves, pregnancy due dates, or other big events. After noting these, make sure you have the minimum number of required school days for your state (usually 180).
While you’re planning, include some field trips. If you like routine, maybe plan a specific day each month (eg, third Friday), or you can just wing it! Also be sure to leave some blank spaces – days for catching up, following bunny trails, and for those #LifeHappens moments.
Homeschool Planning: Choosing a Groove
Now that you have an idea of what your calendar year looks like, decide what rhythm you want the school year to have.
Do you want to follow a traditional school schedule, mimicking the public school calendar of August through June, with similar breaks? This might be a good option if your children have cousins or friends that they want to see on school breaks.
Do you want to school year-round, spreading out the work at a relaxed pace and taking time off regularly?
Do you want to have a four-day school week, leaving one day each week free for field trips, appointments, and playdates? This can be a good option if you need to schedule regular appointments, as you’ll know you always have this day of the week free.
When you’re making your plan for the year, you’ll want to put in scheduled appointments and schedule out the first few weeks of school work, but don’t plan too far in advance. Why? Because life happens. You might need to adjust the class work load, adding more or relaxing it, depending on your student’s progress. No need for you to waste time planning every single day of school when it will change.
Each month, reevaluate where your student is and plan out schoolwork for the next month around the appointments, field trips, and blank spaces. Oh ya. And write in pencil. Because things change. When it comes to planning, we follow the Robinson’s advice with curriculum lessons and just, “Keep Moving Forward.”
For older students – in middle and high school – it’s never too early to help them start their own planning as well. This teaches personal responsibility and time management. Check out the Five Best Planners for Teens to find an option perfect for your teen.
Depending on the age of your student, you’ll need to plan a little more or a little less. In general, the younger the child, the laxer you can be.
Birth to Age 3
This age is about learning through play. Life skills, motor skills, and language development are the primary goals.
Preschool and Kindergarten
While children should still be focusing on learning through play, there can be a slight switch to academic goals. Learning letters, numbers, sounds, how to print their name are the primary goals.
Elementary School
There is still some learning through play, but more focus on academic goals. This is the time to decide what type of curriculum you want to use – classical, traditional, unit studies, Charlotte Mason, etc – and be sure to cover reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as introductory science and social studies. Follow your student’s interests and curiosities!
This is when students really begin to buckle down in academics, becoming more intentional about learning. Classes become more difficult, electives are added into the day, and students begin to think about career options for down the road. Students become more independent and start taking more responsibility for their learning at this age, too.
High School
Start with the end in sight. Have an idea of what your child might like to do after graduation, and plan courses around this. Classes are divided into core subjects (science, math, language arts, history) and elective classes. Don’t forget to plan for standardized testing if college is a possibility. Internships, hands-on projects, and volunteer hours should all be recorded, too.
You may not consider meal planning part of homeschooling planning, but it’s really important! Without having a plan in place for dinner, it’s suddenly five o’clock and you have nothing thawed out. This leads to a lot of take out, going out to eat, and stressed, hungry family members.
Consider your weekly schedule when meal planning. If Tuesdays are a full, busy day with evening activities, plan a freezer meal. Or make a large meal on Monday and serve the leftovers the next day. Save those time-consuming family favorites for days that are more flexible.
You have everything in place to have a wonderful homeschool year! But don’t forget to attend to yourself, too. Homeschool moms are notorious for wearing twenty hats at once! We go and go and go and go until we just can’t do it anymore…it’s called burnout.
So glad you asked! These are classes hosted online that include textbook and video elements, discussion feeds with peers, and live, virtual meetings. Each week, the students are interacting through facilitated discussion in a private forum. Rather than labeling these live classes, we have labeled them blended because we will not be meeting live every single week.
How and when will the class meet? Each class has its own class join code in Canvas. Classes “meet” weekly via shared assignments and moderated discussion during the school year (August 14, 2023 – May 4, 2024 for the ’23-’24 school year). Most classes are pre-recorded with community discussion and group chats. Periodically we have live class meetings. These are on the syllabus for your student to plan ahead. If you are unable to attend a live class, it will be recorded for later playback. Self-paced coursework will be assigned between classes. Scheduled classes are posted in Central Standard Time.
What it my student is absent? Since the coursework is assigned on a weekly basis, students have the flexibility to complete it on their own schedules. If your student will absent for an extended period of time, or you are predicting an act of nature (eg, hurricane at your home), please contact us so we can make arrangements. If a family emergency arises, please do the same. We understand that life happens occasionally.
I don’t think I quite understand how a pre-recorded class works with group discussion? If it isn’t live, how do they get to interact with the instructor and each other?
That’s a good question, and one our test group grappled with, but currently what it looks like is: periodic live classes (once per quarter), discussion threads, peer reviews, and digital interaction through the platform with face-to-face interaction in those live classes (which will be recorded for any students who miss attending). Some of the classes also contain a group project component, where they will be working together, virtually.
Our original plan had been to stream every class live as live interactive, but the internet capability where we live simply isn’t up to the task. And I’m not moving just for streaming. However, we are able to secure a place up in the city every so often to hijack their net for those live streaming classes.
What technology will we need? Required technology: Digital notebook (Google Docs or One Drive), internet access, Canvas (you will be sent access instructions), and the ability to use camera & microphone during class discussions
Who is teaching these classes? History and language arts classes are taught primarily by Yvie Field, a homeschool mom with close to twenty years of educational experience (both homeschool and classroom), as well as some adjunct appearances by parental figures who are retired teachers, particularly in high school language arts. Science classes are taught by a former teacher and a teaching assistant. We may bring other, experienced and vetted, teachers on board, as well as guest speakers who are experts in their field and / or bring a unique perspective on the material. As the academy expands, we are looking to add licensed teachers for our science and math classes.
Where can I see a sample class? Currently, there is a Language Arts 1, a Physical Science class, a Chemistry class, and an American History class for sample on the Academy page.
What if my student has questions? Within our online platform, Canvas, there is an email icon which will allow your student to directly contact the teacher with any questions.
How do you ensure students’ privacy? None of our students’ personal information is revealed in the online classroom. Students log in using a screen name. They do not provide last names or any contact information in the online classroom. Only teachers can see any personal information about each student. Work assignments are submitted via email and will only be shared with student permission for educational purposes. Teachers are not responsible for archiving data, so be sure to keep a copy of your work. Sparks Academy uses security protocols, but is not liable for data breaches or lost data.
Do I have to buy the curriculum, or will it be provided? All co-op members are required to purchase the PDF or physical copy of each course that they are participating in. (Purchases are verified. There are a few different options for verification.) In most cases, you will only need the student textbook. This information is provided in the course description. The student texts for Economics and Energy Science come as part of the enrollment fee.
Grading All students receive a grade based on projects, quizzes, journals, and class participation.
Why is it called Sparks Academy?
Our oldest son is a blacksmith, and also a fan of word play. When we were hanging out in his shop one afternoon, watching him work (and making sparks), it just developed. Then he came up with the slogan, and the rest is history…
What if I just want someone to help with writing assessment, but don’t need an entire class?
We offer writing assessment and feedback packages for The Good & the Beautiful Levels 6, 7, and High School. If you are using any writing curriculum other than TGTB, please purchase the high school level.
If you usually use The Good & the Beautiful, why did you choose Notgrass for history?
TGTB is currently revamping their entire history program. Once they release it, we will examine the changes to see if it is still a good fit. In the meantime, Notgrass is an amazingly comprehensive program that will prepare your high schooler for further academic challenges! There is still a possibility that we will offer both Notgrass and TGTB history options for you to select from in the future, but we simply cannot say for sure right now.
What if my student just needs assistance with focusing on college prep?
The new year is always exciting, but for us 2021 was a time of looking forward to this new endeavor!
January kicked off our recording sessions
In February, writing options were created for parents who just need writing assistance.Finally, the skeleton was rolled out for six classes, and our test group began to work their way through the system, noting kinks and places for improvement so we can bring you the best experience!Our February poll showed just how many people were craving quality teacher-led programs in high school science and math!With folks expressing interest in science, we decided to share the lesson plans we developed for our own children.March showed that recording was happening, but slowly. Technological quirks made for a steep learning curve!Some folks wanted to know what a class looked like…so before there were sample classes, there was a peek inside the ‘making of a class.’ Students can find citations and links for every class in the lecture video.….and then those sample classes went up! You can find them at the Sparks Academy tab.
We’re glad you’re here and hope to see you in class soon. Have a wonderful day!
After polling several homeschooling families on what they thought was the one must-read book for high school girls, we’ve put together a list of thirty-two books that all girls should read in middle and high school. They include old classics and new favorites, and have lots of character-building lessons, too! Parents should always preview books first….many of these are only appropriate at the high school level.
For more literature resources, check out SchoolhouseTeachers! It includes all classes, for all grades…and it’s one price for the entire family. There are many different learning styles to select from, so if you have one visual kid who needs a relaxed pace and one aural kid who needs a more stringent pace, there are classes that will fit them each. With over 475 classes available, plus extras for mom and dad, this is my favorite resource to offer new families wanting to dip their toe into homeschooling!
You may also like…
Boys tend to fall staunchly into the ‘reader’ or ‘non-reader’ category. Sometimes it just takes a little push toward more action-packed, exciting, adventure-filled stories to move them from one category to the other! We’ve put together a list of thirty-two books that all boys should read in middle and high school. Not only are they full of adventure (which they’ll love), but they have lots of character-building lessons, too! Parents should always preview books first….many of these are only appropriate at the high school level.
For more literature resources, check out SchoolhouseTeachers! It includes all classes, for all grades…and it’s one price for the entire family. There are many different learning styles to select from, so if you have one visual kid who needs a relaxed pace and one aural kid who needs a more stringent pace, there are classes that will fit them each. With over 475 classes available, plus extras for mom and dad, this is my favorite resource to offer new families wanting to dip their toe into homeschooling!
This is sure to be the most-unusual back-to-school season in our lives… How will it work? Where will we school (for those families who outsource some or all of the school day)? What will we need? Will masks be a school day requirement?
Seasoned homeschool moms will attest to this list. We welcome new homeschool moms into our fold…..no denim jumper required! Here are fourteen must-have supplies for moms homeschooling middle and high school…
Food / snacks
The number one most-under-projected purchase is the amount of food you’ll need to keep on hand for any one day of school. These are teens…and they’re home ALL DAY….and don’t forget about Second Breakfast!
Library Card
Each December, our library spits out a little piece of paper showing us how much we’ve saved that year by using the library instead of purchasing the items we checked out. Without fail, that number has been over $25K every year! And it’s only grown as the kids have gotten older and their materials have gotten pricier. That’s not to say we don’t buy curriculum, because we definitely do, but those subject-specific books (like “The Real Fighting Stuff“) can be really expensive…thank heavens for the library!
3 hole punch
One of the most underappreciated members of the secretarial lot, the 3-hole punch allows you to take a chaotic mess of papers and organize them into binders. There is not beauty in the chaos when you have three kids’ papers scattered all over the kitchen….punch them, put them in binders, and put them on the shelf until you need grades.
Coffee / wine
Whether it’s 6 am or 6 pm, one of these is always going to be appropriate. Which end of the day you choose to put them is entirely up to you…. Just don’t let your stock dwindle. That could be a bad day.
Shortcut to ST on desktop
We can’t say enough about SchoolhouseTeachers, which basically lets you sign the kids on and then teaches them all their classes. Video-based, downloadable, interactive…pick your poison. Each student’s desktop needs a shortcut directly to their SchoolhouseTeachers dashboard so you can turn over the algebra headache instruction… What is ST?
Favorite chocolate hidden in a tampon box
You made cookies and didn’t get any. You bought your favorite candy and only found empty wrappers. We’ve been there. Solution? Get your favorite chocolate, and hide it in an empty tampon box! No one will steal it now…
Stapler
This one seems like an easy oversight, but every home office needs a stapler. ‘Nuff said.
Desktop / laptop
Whether you choose cumbersome or portable – and they each have their benefits – it’s good to have an actual computer on hand, rather than just tablets and cell phones. There are so many things that require all the functions of an honest-to-pete computer, both online and offline.
Printer & ink
Did you buy digital curriculum? What about that nifty five-page freebie you just had to have? Are you really going to pay someone to print out eight pages of flashcards for you?
None of us got out of high school unscathed…so why would we think we can get out of teaching high school unscathed? Some days are going to be better than others. Pull on your big girl panties, try to keep it light, and remember what Annie said…. ‘You’re never fully dressed without a smile!‘
Quiet place / lock on bathroom door
Hmmm. Those days when our toddlers would just barge into the bathroom? They’re not gone. The kids just stand behind the door now talking to you. I like to keep the tap running…for an hour…so that I can’t hear them…while I read quietly in the bathroom.
Laminator
Everyone thinks they don’t need a laminator. Until they do. And you do. Need one. That is if you don’t already have one. Flashcards, printable games, and dry-erase worksheets are all vastly improved and gain an extended life with a laminator. We also like to make booklets, like the Memorization Book, which will last kid after kid after kid…
Plan / goals
Um, yeah. Your kid is in high school. Which means that s/he is about to leave the nest (hopefully). Do y’all have a plan? College, votech, career? This is the time to make goals and help your student move ever closer to the edge of the nest…get those wings ready!
Dry Erase Pouches
Not just for elementary school parents! These dry erase pouches are fantastic for reusing with things such as graph paper, mapwork, and geometry graphics. Students who need a little extra practice on math facts and handwriting can put them to use as well.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
If your older student has younger siblings who are doing schoolwork or playing, it can be distracting and frustrating trying to concentrate on schoolwork. Noise cancelling headphones help your student tune out the pitter and tune in to classwork.
Coil binder
You might think you don’t need a coil binder. If you have a great printer – such as Family Nest Printing – you might not. But you’ll want to ask them to bind your printed books for you. This allows you to buy digital curriculum once, print a book for each kid (as it’s needed), and bind it up like printed textbooks!
Pre-Planned Goodies
Remember that analogy about putting on your own mask on an airplane before putting one on your children? Homeschooling moms can easily fall into the trap of forgetting to take care of themselves, too… Schedule a monthly reminder to step back and regularly take care of yourself! See our Seven Ways to Pamper Mom!
Secure your entire curriculum by purchasing a family membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com. One membership covers every subject. Every grade. Every student.
Can I just pull my child out of school? Is that even legal?
The short answer is, yes, you can pull them out and it’s
legal. But each state has different
laws, but HSLDA knows all of them. If
you’re planning to homeschool, joining HSLDA is
a must, no matter which state you reside in, because they’ve got your back.
How
do I get started?
Homeschooling can be expensive if you don’t put some thought into it at the beginning. {See The Costs of Homeschooling.} The first thing you should do, especially if you are pulling kids out of public school, is to plan for an adjustment period. You might hear this referred to as ‘deschooling.’ This will give you time to take some notes and make a plan, but it also gives your student(s) time to transition. (The longer they were in public school, the longer this may take.) This is when your child comes to realize that the days of being lectured and provided answers have passed, and it is now time to be more proactive and take some responsibility for their learning. Trust me…they’ll come to appreciate this.
Deschooling also gives your family a chance to find a new
rhythm. Remember when everyone had to
pull their kids out of school, without warning, during COVID? People were overwhelmed. Their lives were being turned on a dime. This transitional time allows you to get past
the “argh! We’re together all. the. time.”
phase and into a more family-oriented groove.
I’m not gonna lie…it can be hard for some families, particularly those
who are accustomed to running all the time.
But you’ll get there.
Deschooling, however, doesn’t mean watching tv and playing video games every day. This is a chance to re-ignite that natural passion for learning. Take up a craft or art project. Read some books. Get outside. Take field trips. This is a chance to get back to the basics of learning.
Tips for Transitioning to Home-School
Keep a routine as best you can. Set up a daily schedule that includes work, rest, and play.
Try to regulate screen time. This may be difficult if classes are being held online, but try anyway.
Be patient with yourself and others.
Be willing to learn alongside your kids. You might find you enjoy the lessons!
If you are working from home, be willing to check in on your kids every 20-30 minutes to be sure they are doing their classes.
One fantastic option for families just starting out is called SchoolhouseTeachers. ..
One family membership covers all the kids…whether there are two or twelve…and everything you need to homeschool every subject for every grade!
There are varied course options, including streaming, interactive, and downloadable. We personally (here in rural-ville) tend toward the downloadable ones, but I know many families would rather have streaming.
Use promo code: SHARK20 right now and receive the low rate of $179 for TWO years—only $89.50/yr! You’ll also receive a FREE canvas tote and PRINT back issue of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine (tote color and magazine issue will vary, no refunds). Every subject. Every grade. Every student.
But how am I supposed to get it all done in a day?
First-time homeschoolers generally try to replicate
public school at home. It’s what they know, and it’s familiar.
Trust me…many mommas have gone down this road before!
Learning to re-frame the day, however, is the first step
toward homeschool freedom. When you understand and accept that there is
considerable learning value is almost everything you do, it relaxes your
attitude toward school…which transfers to your students and makes for a more
enjoyable experience.
How to re-frame?
First, learn the lingo.
Does your child understand something? Wonderful! They have ‘comprehension.’
If you quiz your child on his ABCs, does he know them? Great! He just passed an ‘assessment.’
Second, master documentation.
Say your elementary student spent two hours outside,
skipping rope, playing with sidewalk chalk, catching bugs and examining them,
and making leaf prints. That’s physical education, art (or handwriting,
depending on what was drawn), science, and nature study!
Baking cookies together as part of holiday
preparations? This activity has math (measurement and time), chemistry,
reading, home economics, and nutrition lessons!
We’re not suggesting that everyday consist of this type of schooling, though there are families who do ascribe to this theory – it’s called Unschooling, and you can learn more about it here.
The point is that each day doesn’t need to consist of
books, papers, and pencils to ensure that learning is happening. When
children are excited about something, they’re sure to learn and retain more!
What
do I do about my special needs child?
This is a subject that’s near and dear to the Homeschool
House leadership, as each and every one of us has at least one special needs
child. You’ll find several articles on
our blog about this subject. Here are
just a few….
In a word, yes.
Benjamin Franklin once said,’ Failing to plan is planning to fail.’ What that means is that you need to have some
idea of goals before you start teaching.
Is college a goal? What about
learning to read by the end of the year?
Different ages require different goals.
Some parents plan an entire year in advance. Others plan for the month, or the week, while
some just plan for the day. How you
choose to plan is going to be largely dependent on your preferences.
Me? I’m a
planner. But I don’t like planning long-term
because things are always changing (hello…COVID, anyone?). After many years of homeschooling, our family
has found that planning for the week ahead works perfectly for us. Even then, there are some weeks when things
change and the planning book gets marked up.
Life happens.
Some people do their planning online, while others prefer to use a paper planning book. As part of the planning, you’ll review what’s coming up in each curricula subject, make sure you have materials and library books on-hand, and take into consideration any upcoming appointments during the school day.
If you’re planning for an entire month, plan to sit down
for about a full day to lay out exactly what needs to be done. If you’re
planning for a week at a time, prepare to spend about an hour laying out the
week’s work. Some people (no finger
pointing at one of our Shack leaders J )
prefer to write down at the end of the day what was accomplished….no planning
required and her book is never marked up with changes! Again….personal preferences.
Planning a Bit Easier
There are some curricula that take all of the planning
out the mix. A World of Adventure,
BookShark, Sonlight, My Father’s World…these are all curricula that provide the
planning sheets for you. It’s open and
go…just make sure that you have any materials on-hand for art or science
lessons (they’ll tell you what you need).
If you’re just starting your homeschool journey, and very anxious about
planning and making sure that everything is covered, you might start out with
something like this.
How
on earth do I homeschool multiple ages at once??
Whether you have two children or eight, homeschooling
multiple children is a juggling act. One
of the best things that you can do is have some ‘schooling together time’ so
that there is a set time when everyone comes together as a unit.
Teach Together
With children of about the same age – up to four years
apart – you can teach some of the subjects simultaneously. Curricula such as The Good & the
Beautiful, Gather ‘Round, BookShark, or A World of Adventure lend themselves
toward this type of family-style teaching, with cohesive read-alouds and
teaching time while each student gets an age-appropriate workbook.
Read-aloud time doesn’t have to mean that all the
children are lined up neatly and politely on the couch! Legos, coloring books, and other quiet play
toys are a great way to keep little (or not-so-little) hands occupied during
this time. Discuss the reading as a
family at the end of each session.
Unit Studies
Similar to the curricula cited above, unit studies allow
your entire family to work together on one topic, with each student researching
or studying at their own level. After a
family trip to the aquarium and some study-together time, a toddler might color
a page about seahorses, while a high schooler might do a research paper on the
same topic. Together, all of the
students could complete a science experiment, play a game, and do art projects.
Individual Subjects
While it’s easier to combine history and literature, subjects such as math and science need to be a bit more age-specific once students hit middle school. Again, if they are only a couple of years apart, students could still study together. Middle school, however, is when students begin to work independently, so this is a good opportunity to give them some of that freedom. For many families, math is the one that requires each student to have different, grade-appropriate lessons, and tends to take the most of mom’s time. An outside course, such as the Saxon Dive CDs, can really help here!
What
curriculum do I need?
Choosing the right curriculum for your family means first determining your family’s homeschooling style. Some families are strictly one style, while others prefer a blend of styles. Within the leadership of the Book Shack, we cover nearly every style imaginable…so if you ever have questions, just ask, and one of us will be glad to assist you. You can also check out reviews!
Your family might try out one style and find that it’s not for you. It may take a few years to settle down into the right fit for your family, and that’s completely normal. When contacting the Book Shack for assistance, however, it helps us to help you if you know your family’s preferred style.
What style is best for your family?
When choosing a style (and there’s a good chance you’ll change as your children grow), consider these questions…
What’s your teaching style?
What are your goals?
How do your kids learn best?
What values do you want to instill in your children?
What’s your lifestyle? Do you prefer routine or flexibility?
There are five of us here at the Homeschool House. DeeDee and Erin are our ‘people-people,’ while Nicole, Jennie, and myself do a lot of the behind the scenes work. It takes all hands, each with a different strength, to make it work!
Tonight, though, I want to write you from my own voice. My name is Yvie, and I run the website for the Homeschool House. If there’s been a tech glitch…well, it’s probably my fault. My apologies!
One of my sisters and her husband are active duty Coast Guard. They also have two young children who, until this week, were in day care and school. Like so many other families around the nation and world, they’ve found their lives suddenly turned upside down and have become overnight homeschoolers.
I sat down during the early part of this week and helped come up with a plan to help them educate the kids / keep them occupied so that she can continue to work from home at the same time. I’m making these same plans available to other families as well, in the hopes of alleviating stress for other families in the same situation.
Why? Well, because what I’ve heard from her several times this week is that she’s overwhelmed. So many companies and people are trying to be helpful, but it’s all just too much, too fast. I’m figuring there are a lot of parents out there in the same boat.
Hey lil sis…
I know you’ve gotten emails and seen social media posts about all these free homeschooling conventions online that teach you how to homeschool. Those are good, and I know a lot of the folks talking at them. If you had the time, I’d say go for it….but after talking to you for five minutes earlier, I also know this is out of the question.
Yes, you’re overwhelmed. Do you remember when we first pulled the kids out of school? No? Well, it was a lot like this….only we had planned for it. But there were still growing pains as we found a new not-public-school groove. Not if, but when, you need someone to vent to for a minute….you know the number!
SO. Here’s what you’re gonna do.First, you take a deep breath. Ok, good. Now take another one. Go make a half-caf, too, to sip on while we go over this. Give me twenty minutes and you can be on your way. Ten if I talk like you! (She talks really fast.)
Second, put a lock on that pantry. The girls will eat you out of house and home before you know it now that y’all are home all the time. I am so not kidding…ask any of your homeschooling friends from gymnastics or scouts.
Third, print out that list of classes I just sent you. It has a chart for each kid, with the core classes plus some electives. I know your time is crazy-busy, so I’ve picked out ones that will be easy for them to use and require the least amount of assistance from you. You’ll still need to check in and look over their work every so often, but it won’t require full-time one-on-one. (Readers – you can access that list here.)
Totally FREEResources (yes, we’ve used them all, mostly when the boys were younger)
www.Starfall.com – Reading & spelling for elementary school
www.SpellingCity.com – spelling for any grade
www.ABCMouse.com – preschool and elementary school learning games
Use this Scribd resource for accessing books to read aloud together or for novel / unit studies. Also use your local library’s download service (Hoopla, Overdrive)
LitWits.com is offering FREE fun studies. Use 17READ4FUN at checkout to get one free. These are good for ‘Fun Fridays’ or any other day when you just feel like snuggling on the couch and doing nothing.
If you just want to try out the SchoolhouseTeachers thing before committing, you can get the first month for only a dollar with code ONEDOLLAR. Sign up for the month to month and just cancel once the school year is over (unless I can convince you to come to the dark side!!!)
I love you! It’s going to be a long couple of weeks as you find your new groove, but we’ve been through worse, and I know you’ll look back on this time and be glad you got to bake cardamom bread, catch bugs outside, start a garden, and enjoy the time with the kids….even if you did it all while juggling your base job. HUGS!!!
We’re all in this together. Some of us have been doing it a lot longer, but you know what? We all started out the same way. The only difference was that we had a little more time to get our ducks in a row….and some of us are still doing that. Got a question? Reach out and ask for help! You’ve got this, mama! Take care, stay healthy, and give hugs! ~Yvie
When we first started homeschooling, there were days I wanted to pull my hair out. My mom liked to tell me, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!” In honor of her support (she has always been a great ear), we’re going to take 50% off everything in our store through April 15th! Use code TIEAKNOT.
With Sensory Processing Disorder, normal daily demands in a classroom are stressful. Homeschooling provides an alternative for your child that allows him or her to grow with accommodations and love…
With SPD, normal daily demands in a regular classroom become stressful.
Bright lights can cause headaches
Humming lights are distracting
Hearing other kids breathing is annoying
People may be talking or laughing too loudly
The teacher’s words may be too fast or confusing
The sound of the school bell is scary
Smells may seem overwhelming
The seat may feel too hard
The clothes being worn may irritate the skin
The kid in the next seat may be too close for comfort
It is difficult to listen to the teacher and
write at the same time
SPD students may be labeled as ‘picky’ or ‘finicky,’ and
their issues may be ignored. This
response can lead to an emotional roller coaster.
It can be difficult for the student to label
emotions (they end up called ‘fear’)
It may be difficult to identify the source of
the problem
Once identified, it can be difficult to share
those emotions, and they are often dismissed
This can lead to a cyclic reaction, as the
struggles are then internalized, leading to more difficulty with regulating
emotions
The more heightened and dysregulated the
emotions, the more difficulty the student will have filtering out sensory
input.
Do you see the cycle??
Is your child highly sensitive? How many of these statements apply to your child?
Over-sensitive or under-sensitive to noise,
touch, smell, etc
Easily distracted
Agitated, anxious, or irritable
Poor tolerance for frustration
Impulsive, with poor self-control
Obsessive-compulsive
Repetitive, uses self-stimulation
Oppositional-defiant
Tunes out or withdraws
Has tantrums and meltdowns (beyond the toddler
years)
Rigid / inflexible thinking
Need to maintain control in situations
Need for routine, sameness, and predictability
Examples of self-stimulatory behavior include rocking, hand-flapping, vocalizing, or jumping. These behaviors are an attempt to self-regulate the arousal level and screen out unwanted stimulation when over-aroused. They can also be used to maintain alertness when under-aroused. These self-stimulating behaviors are often used early on, until the child learns other ways of regulating arousal.
It can be helpful to learn your child’s specific nervous system quirks.
What calms him?
What alerts him?
What are his sensitivities?
What overwhelms him?
What are his sensory preferences?
What interaction style is he drawn to (or does
he avoid)?
What learning style works best for him?
What helps him feel safe and accepted?
The SPD child may not have any issues during the school day, but while keeping it together, he is accumulating stress neuro-chemicals throughout the day. The teacher doesn’t see the problem, but it is the parent who experiences the meltdowns after the child gets home to a ‘safe’ environment. These ‘after-effects’ show up as meltdowns and shutdowns.
Meltdown
Shutdown
Stress chemicals reach boiling point Coping skills collapse Child acts out to escape or avoid situation and reduce anxiety Hitting, kicking, pushing, throwing, slamming, biting self or others, and head banging all provide proprioceptive stimulation which releases stress chemicals Occurs when chemicals build quickly
Stimulation becomes too overwhelming, and nervous system shuts down Child may be lethargic, limp, unresponsive, and staring or closing eyes Occurs when chemicals increase gradually
Many people see the child as oppositional and purposefully acting out, but in true meltdowns, the child loses all self-control. He is not being oppositional; his stress chemicals have reached a boiling point and overtaken him. Trying to counsel, scold, or reason during a meltdown is ineffective. Reasoning skills are neurologically unavailable at this point, and the child is often remorseful after calming. Punishment only works if the child has some degree of control over his behavior.
It is helpful to touch base with all teachers, support staff, and even relatives, to help them understand. To help your child develop a learning profile
Define comfort zones (what is calming)
Know which interaction style is most comforting
(what makes him feel safe)
Define sensory sensitivities and develop
accommodations
Know his strengths, weaknesses, dislikes, and
tolerance levels
Create a list of supports and best teaching
strategies
Know which triggers are the most overwhelming
and how to quickly soothe these
Learning to help your child with sensory disorders falls
into four categories
Organize Nervous System – Incorporate physical activity daily; consult with a doctor about a sensory diet, supplements, and medication (if needed).
Reduce Sensory Overload – Develop sensory accommodations to prevent overwhelm; establish a plan for calming meltdowns.
Reduce Confusion – Develop a routine, with visual strategies for transitions. Slow down the day, particularly during transitional times, and continually review with the child. Take changes slowly.
Establish Boundaries – Set clear boundaries for both the child and interactions with others. Set expectations and work with child on self-advocation (once older) and using accommodations. Respect his comfort zones.
Teaching Tools
There are many different strategies for helping the SPD
child learn to cope with daily stressors.
It is best to choose one too and work at instilling it before moving on
to the next. Select an
easy-to-incorporate one first, to help build self-confidence, before tackling
more difficult ones. Over time, these
can become a part of the daily routine.
Proprioceptive
Activities
Vestibular
Activities
Stretching Wall pushups Squeeze ball Run, jump, skip Lift, carry, push/pull heavy object Vacuum or sweep Play leap frog or tug-of-war Hit, kick, bounce, throw ball Calm, crawl, scoot, pull up Roll / knead dough or clay Wrestle, rough house, pillow fight Weighted vest, lap pad, or blanket
Jump on trampoline Swing on swing set or hammock Run, skip, ride bike Spin, rotate, swivel chair Sit & Spin Play on scooter or wagon Rock back and forth on rocking chair Hopscotch, tag, chase Swingset – slide, seesaw, trapeze Rock back and forth on therapy ball
Anti-Perfectionism
Help the child learn to fight perfectionism. All children, regardless of sensitivity, can
benefit from learning to ‘fail to succeed,’ meaning to learn from failure. Teach the child to focus on effort and
attitude, rather than performance.
Explain that ‘good enough’ is still good. (You can demonstrate this by baking cookies
that are purposefully less than perfect, and then having a tasting party! Are they perfect? No.
Are they good enough? Yes.) Make a game of making mistakes each day. (Obviously, not life-threatening ones.) Model how to own the mistake and learn from
it. Play games where there are ‘snags,’
such as Chutes & Ladders.
Relaxation Training
Integrated Learning Strategies has several breathing exercises for teaching children to self-soothe. Check them out at this page.
Attention & Focus
You may have to remind him to refocus several times a day, but try to do so without anger or frustration.
Break large tasks into smaller bits, and recognize the completion of these smaller tasks.
Use charts to help keep them focused on the tasks at hand.
So how does this play out in the real-world? You can break the cycle of the ABCs of SPD!
Antecedent
Behavior
Consequence
Asked to do something Homework assignment Community event
Hitting self or others Screaming Hiding
Escape / avoid task at hand
For each of the three antecedents, we’ve outlined possible cognitive or sensory deficits that lead to the behaviors and provided alternative procedures for approaching them.
For example, when asked to complete a task, the child may not understand multiple steps of instruction. By breaking the task into smaller chunks and allowing time to process the request, the child can feel successful.
Deficits
Procedures
Cognitive Delayed processing Multi-step direction difficulty Short attention span Trouble transitioning Difficulty with uncertainty
Sensory Sensitive to touch / noise / smell Overwhelmed by crowds Difficulty processing oral directions
Request Use short phrases and visual cues (c) Give time to process directions (c) Break task into smaller chunks (c) Use cues before transitioning (c)
Homework assignment Break homework into small chunks (c) Do one thing at a time, with breaks (c)
Community event Use headphones or ear plugs to block noise (s) Avoid crowded times (s) Prepare by previewing what will happen (c)
If you have a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, then you already know that normal daily demands can be a bit of a minefield. You’ve probably already developed several strategies, perhaps unwittingly, to help him cope. Homeschooling provides an educational path for your child that allows him or her to grow with accommodations and love. You’ve got this, mama!
Well, I think I can see spring on the horizon! So, we know what that means. Planning for the next school year! Woo Hoo! Yeah whatever.
We all know better. We get a tingle down our spine every time we go to the
mailbox and see a new curriculum catalogue!
We turn the pages with utter excitement, thinking of all the exciting
learning that we can do for the next year.
We dog-ear pages and circle descriptions…..with great
anticipation! Oh the EXCITEMENT! And then comes our Debbie Downers.
First our most treasured prodigy begins with the long drawn out moans of,
“Moooooooooommm! I don’t want to do
latin…whhhhyyyy do I have to do I have to do Algebra?? Seriously….this reading list is from the dark
ages!” Oh those precious faces so
full of potential and ANGST.
As we work hard, making our brains sweat as if we were doing Zumba in the
Sahara, contemplating what classes each of our precious jewels would surely
excel in, what will be needed for high school credits, and of course the super
fun electives! Oh, how we plan!
Then the other downer appears…..you know the one. The one at the end of the order
form….yeah…that one….TOTAL. That
little box can take us from euphoria to the deepest darkest place in our
children’s messy closets! Then comes
the saddest part…what can we do without?
Oh! My heart breaks to a million pieces, falling to the floor with
tinkle of fine glass! (Look at me…practicing my descriptive writing!)
BUT! A thought jumps into my brain
like the ding on the microwave! THE
LIBRARY! YES! I will make my own curricula…I will
research, plan, outline, do all the worksheets and assignments! I CAN DO THIS!
Who am I fooling???? I have science
experiments in the back of the fridge….that started as “left overs for
lunch.” I just can’t seem to recall
what lunch…or when. And if you look
under the beds, the dust bunnies have formed a commune of free love and
peace.
We all have been there. It is so
hard to build your curricula to your children.
We battle costs, fear, intimidation, and failure. But, with that said, we find such joy in what
we see our children accomplish. As home
educators we celebrate the grades; but also the special little nuances,
learning to tie shoes, writing their name,
finding them being quiet….with a book, seeing them help the elderly get a
shopping cart from the rack….so much that cannot be measured in an aptitude
test. Moms, do not stress over the books
and the grades! Look at the human you
have made and now are molding to be a generous, kind, caring, and loving
person.
Mama, hold the head high! We are strong, smart, and capable! We have coffee running through our
veins! We can teach, cook pizza rolls,
change a diaper, and pay bills! We are THE
WONDER WOMEN of the world! So, get your
bracelets on, attach your lasso of truth (but does it work on a 3 year old?),
put on that push-up bustier and high heel running boots, and get out there and
show the world, “I AM A HOMESCHOOL MOM AND I AM STRONG AND FEARLESS!”
Well, except for the fear to open those containers in the fridge…
We’ve compiled the ultimate list of 2020 homeschool conventions, along with a planner to help you organize your weekend and keep track of workshops and vendors!
If you are a convention organizer, or just know of one that should be on this list, please send us a quick note and we’ll add it!
Teach Them Diligently attendees — Use coupon code Mission10 for $10 off registration!
With everything becoming connected online, is there really any reason to physically attend a homeschool convention? After all, that comes with the added expense of travel, and then you can’t just shop online in your pajamas…
There’s just no substitute for community and face-to-face contact, and a homeschool convention offers benefits that you won’t find anywhere else!
Finding Your Tribe I can’t prove it, but maybe the reason homeschool conventions begin in early spring is because they know we’ve been cooped up all winter, and most families are suffering from ‘February Fever.’ We have to break out, find other homeschooling families, and shake off winter!
An Ounce of Encouragement It can be lonely homeschooling, whether you live in a big city or a rural area. Getting into a crowd of people who have made similar life choices can be affirming. Plus, you’ll be able to bounce ideas off of others, get new ideas, and remember that we’re all in this together.
Information from the Source It’s one thing to read a book. It’s another to actually sit down and talk with the author and get personalized information. You can actually do that at conventions! Reap the benefits and wisdom of experienced homeschoolers. You can do this in the vendor hall, in a one-on-one setting, walking around the hotel (but be mindful of their limited free time), or within the workshops themselves.
Workshop Paths Many conventions these days are creating ‘paths’ of workshops, meaning they have a series for new homeschoolers, those with special needs children, and those preparing for college. You’re not confined to those workshops, but by following the path that fits your family best, you have a pre-set schedule that will allow you to maximize what you learn from these experienced speakers. Oftentimes, there are special discounts offered within the workshops, too! J
Curriculum Discounts The exhibit hall is packed full of vendors offering fantastic discounts on their curriculum. There are usually some pretty nice extras to supplement the curriculum that you won’t find anywhere else, too! If you’re in the market for something new, you can actually flip through and examine various selections, talk to the publishers (or authors) about them, and make a well-informed decision for your family. You can maximize your time by looking ahead to see which vendors will be represented and make a note to visit their booths. (There’s a page for this in the convention planner!)
It’s a Family Affair There seem to be two types of convention-goers….those who take the whole family, and those who make it a girls’ weekend. (Having done both, my preference falls toward the latter…everybody needs to cut loose with friends sometimes, right?!) If you take the whole family, though, you’ll have a (typically) rare opportunity to get Dad involved.
Usually the dads are off working full-time so that moms can stay home and homeschool. Both parents care about education, but Mom is the one fully-entrenched. Taking Dad to a convention will give him a different perspective, and new appreciation, for the daily grind of homeschooling. As for the littles, there is usually some sort of day camp set up for them to enjoy time with other kids while Mom and Dad get some one-on-one time to either attend workshops or go sleep in the hotel room…
Well it has happened AGAIN! As I sit and look at my lesson planner, it hits me, like wrecking ball! (But, I am fully clothed LOL)
Thanksgiving is in 27 days and Christmas is in 54! Where oh where did the days go? I imagine planning for the holidays in a public school is stressful, but as we homeschoolers know…we can either rock it….or pull our hair out !
I know when mine were littles, we would really RELAX during the weeks between the holidays. One year we decided to have a homemade tree. We hand made all the ornaments, we used water balloons and bright tissue paper and made some amazing paper mache’ ornaments! We also used standard balloons and made large ornaments to hang from the ceiling. It was really a lot of messy fun. In other words, we did all of our art for the year in a couple of days!
I love the holidays and homeschooling! You can incorporate so much into your teaching! We have studied Christmas traditions in other countries, researched the first Thanksgiving…and being of Native American Heritage, we did a focus on the First People’s history of Thanksgiving!
You can also download a free holiday guide – with Christmas reading lists for all ages, a holiday-themed cross-stitch design, and gift guide as a thank you gift from our webmaster and her blog, Homeschool On the Range.
So, dear friends as we prepare for the Holiday season, we as mommy educators can do so much to make a holiday more than food and gifts! We can do history, art, science, and language arts (family Christmas letters), and hand writing…..and they will never know!
One of the hidden costs of homeschooling is time. It takes a lot of time and focus to properly homeschool, which makes working a full-time job difficult. There are, however, many homeschooling moms (or dads) that work part-time or seasonal jobs.
HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) estimates that homeschooling families spend approximately $300 to $600 per year, per child, on educational needs. This can really add up! There are ways, however, to save money…
Curriculum
The biggest chunk of change you’ll notice right away is the
cost of curriculum. There are so many
different types of curricula out there that we recommend doing a little bit of
investigation before investing money into one.
If you have access to one, attending a homeschool convention is an excellent way to get your hands on several types of curricula, flip through the pages, and see which ones will or won’t work for your family. Personally, when we started homeschooling, my husband and I started ruling out which ones we didn’t like for our family, as that helped narrow down the shortlist to about six that we wanted to check into further.
You can check curriculum websites for samples, often
full-module downloads to try out you’re your family. If you’re near Oklahoma, you can come by the
Book Shack and take home some different types of curricula to try. Mardels or a used bookstore are also good
options for this, though you won’t be able to take them home (free) to try out
with the kids.
If you choose curriculum carefully, you should be able to
reuse it for subsequent children or resell it.
For example, we use Saxon Math and only had to purchase each textbook
once. We purchased one student book for
each child to use (and could have had them write on notebook paper, but student
books aren’t that expensive, and it was easier for the kids to write in the books).
Co-ops, Classes & Extracurricular Activities
Foreign language, homeschool band, physical education, debate
classes – these are things that work best when taught in a group setting, and
are often covered in cooperative settings…but that costs money. It is, however, cheaper than weekly lessons!
For some families, especially at the high school level,
science or math classes get outsourced to a ‘real teacher.’ Not everyone feels comfortable teaching at
those advanced levels, particularly for a child who is preparing to attend
college.
All of these expenses cost money, but should be included in
the homeschooling budget, because they are a necessary part of education.
Field Trips
When we were roadschooling, nearly 90% of our homeschool
budget went toward field trips. After
all, if you’re only going to be visiting a place once, you make the most of it,
right?
We still spend money on field trips each year because
experiential learning is a fantastic way to cement concepts and foster a love
of learning! There are many options for
frugal and free field trips if you just dig a bit.
Follow your local museums on Facebook, and you’ll see when they post free days for educators, homeschoolers, families, or just the general public.
Visit the fire station, police station, or town mayor for a lesson in civics and emergency management.
Most new homeschooling families spend more money than
experienced ones. This is partly due to
needing to purchase curriculum and all of the materials upfront (whereas more
experienced ones tend to have leftovers on hand, or purchase in bulk during
back-to-school sales).
Another pitfall is purchasing several different types of
curriculum. Sometimes things don’t work
out as intended; sometimes they’re just not a good fit for your family. Many times, new homeschoolers aren’t ‘in’ on
where to get curriculum at a reduced price.
Bibliomania – This homeschool consignment store is one of the Book Shack’s biggest supporters, and we love to support them, too! They have a walk-in store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where you can come and visit with the proprietors and thumb through all kinds of curricula. They also have an online store at Amazon. You can also call the store directly, or private message through Facebook, and have the option to pay with Paypal or credit card over the phone.
ChristianBook – If you hit ChristianBook at the right time (sign up for the email list, and they’ll tell you when this is), you can get curricula at deep discounts. They also have books, craft kids, home décor and stuff for adults, and (my favorite!) “surprise boxes” — $100+ in books for only 9.99.
Amazon – Not surprisingly, since they sell everything but the kitchen sink (actually, the probably sell those, too!), Amazon is a great resource for finding books, supplies, science kits, craft kits, and even curricula…sometimes at cheaper costs since you can buy them from a third-party vendor.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com – This online resource offers all core classes, plus several electives, for every grade level…up to adult learners! Use code TRIAL to get the first month for only $5. By doing so, you’ll have an automatic, ongoing monthly discount but also will get your first MONTH as a member for only $5. If you don’t love it, just cancel it after the first month and all you will have lost is a skinny latte. Find out more about ST here.
Worried about getting all of the pieces right in the high school homeschool puzzle?
Through the Door will help you with what you need, from a homeschool perspective, to confidently face high school and college.
This book & worktext set will help you and your high school student breeze through the steps of college and scholarship applications, as well as brushing up on study habits and life skills. The worktext includes activities, worksheets, and planning pages, and accompanies the book.
FAQ Who am I? With 20+ years experience in education and counseling, I have a passion for helping other homeschool moms. I’ve worked in elementary, middle, and high schools in both a teaching and school counseling capacity. For the past seven years, I have been homeschooling our two boys – one gifted and one special needs – and understand the struggles that many moms face.
Who is the online self-paced workshop for? It’s for parents and students in middle and high school. Many of the modules are for the college-bound student, but it is helpful to the career-bound student as well.
How will it be delivered? This is a downloadable book and accompanying workbook.
Parents of special needs children have a difficult row to hoe…one fraught with worry, sleepless nights, and a seemingly never-ending list of doctor and therapy appointments. Some hope that public schools will help address their child’s needs. Some avoid the school system and go for the tailored education approach. There is no right or wrong path to take…only the one that is right for your family.
If the special needs student attends traditional school, they will be given an IEP – an individualized education plan. This is a legal document that defines what a student needs according to his or her diagnosis. It outlines a special education program that provides tailored instruction and support services, such as speech or occupational therapy.
Within the homeschool, an IEP can also be a valuable tool. By sitting down and taking stock of the student’s needs – really taking stock and writing it down – you can evaluate where you’re at, where you want to be, and design a plan for how to get from point A to point B.
Crafting the Individualized Education Plan
When crafting the IEP, consider the following:
What are your student’s biggest struggles? Include academics, motor skills, and life skills.
What is your student’s preferred mode of learning? Visual, audio, kinesthetic? How can you tailor lessons to that learning mode?
Realistically, where is your student today? Where would you like your student to reach? (Be realistic.) Which ONE goal would make the biggest difference in your student’s performance, either in the classroom or in daily life?
The first thing you’ll want to do is take an honest look at where your student is performing. It doesn’t matter how many grade levels behind that may be, just record the level of current performance in each subject. This will give you a realistic picture of where you are.
Second, list any support services that you will need, such as speech, physical, or occupational therapy. This plan is appropriate for students with mild to moderate special needs, as students will severe special needs most likely have been working with a provider since shortly after birth. Also address any life skills you’d like to see addressed.
Create academic goals for your student. Make them realistic, or you’ll be setting both you and your student up for frustration. For example, if he is six grades behind in reading level, aim for growth of two grades per year. You might be surprised and find that you have a ‘jumper’ – a late bloomer who ‘jumps’ six grade levels in one year! Write down your goals, and include strategies for how you will meet them.
Create life skills and support services goals for your student. Write them down, addressing strategies for how you will meet each. For example, ‘Speech Therapy, 30 minutes three times a week’. Some of these skills and goals may seem basic, but when you’ve identified the need and written it down as a goal, you’re more likely to address it!
At the end of the school year, reassess your student to see which strategies worked. Given the informal nature of homeschooling, feel free to continually reassess and alter therapy / strategies as needed. This is one of the perks of the individual attention you can offer at homeschool.
Some homeschooling families are fortunate enough to have speech and occupational therapy services offered through the school. For these families, they have created an IEP with the public school as part of the process for obtaining these services. Oklahoma is not a state, however, that provides educational support services to homeschoolers.
Once you have determined your student’s needs, see if your medical insurance (including state insurance) will cover any of the services. If they will, your family doctor can refer you to a provider. If they will not, you can begin working with your child at home until the situation changes. Check out Speech Therapy for Homeschool and Occupational Therapy in Homeschool for free / frugal therapy ideas.
Once you’ve explored homeschooling styles a bit, you’ll probably set off looking for curriculum. Here are some places where you can score curriculum and materials for free!
Many of these are digital resources and require no extra resources or use books you can check out from the library. Just remember that you’ll still need to pay for any printing. Here is one of our favorite places to print!
Connections Academy, Epic, K12….all of these virtual public school programs are often confused with ‘homeschooling.’ Today we’re going to answer some of the most common questions that we hear. Each student has different needs, and these options might be the right fit for you family, but they’re not actually homeschooling…
If we’re ‘at home,’ isn’t it homeschool?
Homeschools are parent-directed and privately-funded.
Homeschool families are responsible for providing the curriculum and instruction. There are no funds set aside for homeschoolers, and they are usually restricted from participating in public school activities. Curriculum and activities are paid for by the family. At the Book Shack, we strive to help families ease that burden through our resource room.
Parents have the freedom to choose curriculum and resources that match their worldview. They decide how to plan education and track records. (Some states also require parents to keep records, complete testing and / or portfolio review, and take standardized tests. Oklahoma currently does not.)
On the flipside, there are also no government regulations (in the state of Oklahoma).
Virtual schools are government-directed and publicly-funded.
Virtual school programs provide the curriculum, instruction, and access to extracurriculars at no expense to the family. Teachers are usually state-certified, and parents do not play an instructional role. This is “public school done at home.”
Students must comply with state standards for testing, as well as all other laws applicable to school-age students (eg, vaccinations).
The virtual schooling program must be completed at / by a certain time and in a particular order. There is no time for student-directed ‘bunny trails.’ A minimum amount of ‘seat time’ must also be spent for each class.
Virtual public schools are free, as in they are paid for by tax dollars. Like brick and mortar public schools, however, there are still extra fees that come up. The price of a ‘free education,’ however, is the freedom to choose how to educate your student.
If I use virtual schooling, and want to call myself a homeschooler, why do you care?
Because the rights and freedoms of homeschools are different from ‘traditional’ schools, it is important to maintain a distinction. Each state has their own legal requirements.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) maintains a position that to confuse the two groups will eventually erode protections that homeschool families currently have, and fought hard to receive. These rights, such as freedom to choose our own curriculum, were hard-won by previous generations of homeschool families, and we would be remiss to let them slip away.
How does the Book Shack & Homeschool House feel about virtual public schooling?
The Book Shack does not offer resources to families who are using virtual public schooling, as their materials are already covered by the state.
The Homeschool House does offer its space and classes to virtual public school families. This is a community effort to bring together all children who are schooling at home.
For some parents, having a special needs child is the impetus to homeschool. For others, it’s a nerve-wracking concern. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, homeschooling a special needs child is an adventure!
With the advent of No Child Left Behind, special needs children both gained and lost in the classroom. There is more advocacy and information, and accommodations are understood and generally more accepted, but there is still much temptation to box students in. Many families are choosing to homeschool because their special needs children’s needs are not being met in the traditional classroom.
It can be very overwhelming to homeschool a special needs child, especially at first. You not only have to plan the academics, but also the therapy and interventions that are required for your child. In some states, the school system will still help with these needs, but Oklahoma is not one of those states. We parents are required to find therapists and cover that cost on our own. It is one of the prices we pay for a lack of legislation and state-mandated testing for homeschoolers.
Getting a Diagnosis & IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
If your child has been in the school system, then he probably has an IEP. Know that it will expire and you cannot get a new one once he’s been pulled to homeschool. Don’t fret over it; just know it. Keep a copy of the IEP paperwork to take to therapists and doctors when seeking assistance. Your therapist will probably do a therapy-specific evaluation, so be sure to keep that paperwork, too. Start a file…
If you are starting from a homeschool environment, your first stop will be the family doctor, who will refer you to one or more therapists. They will do initial evaluations, which you will want to keep on file.
All of this paperwork is your ‘leg to stand on’ should there be any questions about your child’s performance in the future (not likely, but possible). They are helpful in building your case once you reach the upper grades — as your child may need testing accommodations. You are eligible to file for accommodations on tests such as ACT and SAT.
You are the Expert
No one understands your child like you do. You know his likes, dislikes, what bothers him, and what works best. Working with therapists, you can use his strengths and weaknesses to tailor a program specifically toward his needs.
For example, our son loves airplanes and aviation, so we have used many aviation-oriented games for therapy. Because he’s interested in the topic, he puts forth more effort into mastering those difficult tasks.
As parents, you have already spent years teaching your child and learning in which ways he learns best. Equipped with this knowledge, you are prepared to become an individual classroom teacher as well! Knowing your child’s strengths and weaknesses will help you to tailor the lesson plan to his needs.
For example, if he has dysgraphia, allow him to orally discuss topics, or teach keyboarding at a younger age. If he has trouble with multiple instructions, provide short, individual directions.
Moving at a New Pace
If your child grasps a concept immediately, feel free to move forward. By the same token, if he’s having trouble understanding something, take as much time as you need. For subjects like math and language arts, a failure to build a strong foundation leads to crumbling academics later on. In a traditional school setting, there is only so much time for each concept, but in the homeschool, you have the freedom and flexibility to take as much time as necessary!
Don’t look at it as your child being six months behind in math. Look at the fact that you are putting in the time to cement a solid foundation. Some children are ‘jumpers,’ meaning they don’t show any academic growth at all for a long time, but then ‘jump’ two or three grade levels over a short period of time. Given a strong foundation, things will eventually click into place! Without that foundation, however, you’re merely building an academic house of cards. Move at your child’s pace…
You are Not Alone
Support for special needs homeschool families comes in many places! Here at Homeschool House, every single one of our leaders has at least one, if not more, special needs children. Feel free to ask us questions, and we’ll do our best to point you in a helpful direction.
There are special needs-specific homeschool conventions, Facebook groups, and even local playgroups (look toward your cities, Tulsa and OKC) for these families.
Most curricula offer ways to tailor toward special needs learners. You may have to call the curriculum publisher directly, but they’re usually amenable to discussing how it can be adapted. The Book Shack can also help you with locating curriculum to fit your child’s learning style.
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability – to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this……
When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”
“Holland?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.”
But there’s been a change in the flight plan. They’ve landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It’s just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around…. and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills….and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy… and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say “Yes, that’s where I was supposed to go. That’s what I had planned.”
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away… because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But… if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things … about Holland.
As the school year comes to an end, I see so many changes. Teaching two instead of one been the biggest change, but I have to say…big brother has really stepped up with advice for his sisters!
It’s funny how as the year progresses, the Light Units disappear! We are planning the closing of the year with much anticipation! The sunny days make school seem, well, DULL. The girls are enjoying bike rides, new kittens, and all the flowers!
This year I had to rethink my teaching. My number 2 daughter was really struggling with pre-algebra. So, being a somewhat creative mom, I came up with an IEP plan for homeschooling! I want her to succeed; so she and I set goals and discussed what she felt would help her with the transition into more difficult math. And it is working! Not every child will be an Einstein, but we as home educators have the ability to take what could be a DISABILITY and turn into a work of PROGRESS!
On another note, I found that both of my daughters really enjoy writing. They write short stories and essays with a flare!
And of course we had our “planning conference” for the next year. I really encourage the children’s input for curriculum. So we are ready to put down the moola for school year ’19-20!
It seems like if was just yesterday I taught my oldest to write his name, and *POOF* he is a full grown man -working and driving, being a productive citizen! So my pearl of wisdom is: enjoy these times…all of them. From getting b’s and d’s written in the right direction, to learning times tables, suffering through endless history lessons, and the tears and arguments…because…they go by way too fast!
So dear friends….as we close another year, may your pencils forever be sharpened with erasers, that rulers, compasses, and protractors never be lost, and that our wee ones always know, how much we truly love them!
Do you know how many great opportunities there are for homeschooling mamas to get educator training right here in Oklahoma? We’ve compiled a short list of some of the best (and most overlooked) ones for you to attend! {Feel free to drop us a line with others that you know, and we’ll get them added to this list….let’s collaborate!}
OERB offers FREE petroleum-based curriculum for teachers and homeschoolers across the state of Oklahoma. All levels of teaching are covered in their workshops, which are like a mini-retreat! The classes offer hands-on curriculum for each subject that focus on the petroleum industry. (ie, Core History teaches high school history from the viewpoint of Oklahoma’s oil & gas past) In addition to classroom training, you’ll receive a nice lunch, some snacks, a goody bag, and a day off from the kids!
Similar to OERB, these FREE courses are offered based around the agricultural industry. Each workshop covers all levels of teaching (whereas in OERB, you select your student’s level), so you’ll get information, curriculum, and goodies to use with all of your children together. Additionally, there are numerous free lesson plans available on their website for you to use!
Learn about our diverse natural areas and state parks through real-life and virtual field trips. You can download curriculum materials, and earn trading cards and certificates of completion.
There are several opportunities available here, including visiting with a geologist, the traveling library, hands-on geology kits, a resource room you can visit, touring the Sarkeys Energy Center, and the traveling fossil kit (which is very nice!).
Using water as a theme, Project WET provides hands-on activities to enhance the teaching of science, math, social studies, language arts, and many other required subjects. Project WET is primarily designed for teachers of grades K-12. This training costs $20, but that training comes with supplies and curriculum.
Oklahoma Project WILD provides educators with the tools, training and resources needed to engage students in active, hands-on learning about wildlife and the environment. The activity guides are available only by participating in interactive, hands-on, fun workshops.
While we haven’t personally attended this one, it is a one-day workshop for middle and high school teachers focusing on soybeans and doing science experiments with bio-fuel.
Focusing on forestry, biodiversity, and climate change, these workshops are offered online for educators. (This training is NOT free.) However, each month, free curriculum and student activities are posted on their site, and the activities change, so check back regularly!
It’s that time again! Every homeschool mom’s delight! Homeschool children are singing the song of “their People”……Yes! It’s homeschool convention time!
We plan for months, checking the vendor list, noting what we need to purchase (free shipping!!), what we want to look at, and of course, the gathering of the freebies! Our children get excited, they will be amongst children like them! I know that mine were excited for the book vendors, the hands on exhibits, and the most important….the young entrepreneurs booth.
I have to admit…I have been homeschool conventioning (is this a word?) since the denim jumper days! I still drag my “box on wheels”, which by the way, gets some strange looks! I carry a small spiral notebook that has my needs and wants…when I visit my curricula booth, I am welcomed with a big hug and and friendly, “Good to see you again this year!”
Every year I meet up with all my home school moms and we plan our yearly lunch….a walk downtown to our favorite Mexican restaurant! And this is with at least 9 children in tow! If you have never been to a convention….you are missing out! The smell of new text books, an entire booth dedicated to paper products! (YES) There is a booth where you can purchase the dreaded frogs and squids for dissection, and there are books galore for reading enjoyment! And this mom purchased two fabulous novels written in the 1800’s!
Oh! The freebies! Pens, pencils, water bottles, candy, lunch bags, and keychains…..of course some of the best are the free drawings for curriculum, i-Pads, and lap tops! From one home school mom to others…if you get a chance, visit a homeschool convention! It is day of fun and encouragement! PLUS….this can be considered a “professional day” for your records!
Next year….my plans are to attend 2 (yes..TWO) conventions! I may go into book overdose! Here’s to lazy summer days! Oh…who am I fooling! I don’t know about y’all, but this girl has some deep house cleaning to do!
Another school year is coming to a close. This year really flew by fast.
13 years I have been at this…my oldest will be finishing his Junior year.
I swear it was just yesterday he learned to write his name!
As I look over my dinning room table, well….maybe I should say “school table”, there are workbooks, text books, notebooks, and and tray of pencils that are without erasers, and all with broken lead; through this mess I can see the the amazement of learning.
Homeschooling is not as easy as some would think. You spend hours pouring over curriculum samples, deciding on what type of teaching and learning will work best with each of your little scholars. You plan lessons, field trips, experiments, and extracurricular activities. And, all the while you are also doing laundry, planning and cooking meals, cleaning house, shopping, doctor’s appointments, the many trips to the library, and any other task that needs to be done.
Not only is the table a mess, so is my house! Deep cleaning is usually put on “hold” until summer break. My therory on this is that I will only have my childrens’ attention for a moment, and that this house will wait, for these little minds need to be dust and cobweb free more then my home.
I have heard so many say, “How can I stand to be home all day with my kids?” or “I need my “Me Time”. For which I gladly reply, “These children were a gift from God to me, and my time with them is so short, I want their memories of education to be one of family, learning without stress, and having life skills.” My “me time” is at 5am….when the house is silent…
So, as these last few weeks are coming to a close, and I prepare for for the next year of learning….my heart is full. The outcomes of this year’s goals have been met, the children have grown, they have learned, they have aquired more life skills, but most of all….they are growing into loving, honest, and well adjusted young people.
Yes my life is super busy, and sometimes I look around at my house and just sigh….but this is my life, a life of continous chaos, but it is all mine….and I LOVE IT!
Sooner Homeschool Angels Curriculum Koop (yes, we know co-op doesn’t start with a K…but it worked)
We are a cooperative homeschool organization, which means that everyone works together. You may volunteer time, donate curricula, or donate funding to help cover utilities / supplies. While we are extending the ministry of the Book Samaritan, we will be changing how things were run. We will not be mailing supplies – hence it is now an Oklahoma co-op – you will have to come to the ‘storefront.’ As things progress, we will post here. Our projected opening date for the ministry is December / January.
Summer 2022 – Reopen under new name, the Script’morium.
November 2020 – Closed. Under re-construction.
June 2016 : Closing out the Book Samaritan and starting the move
July 2017 : Back-to-School Night and sharing books with families
Please remember that, while we are centrally located in Oklahoma, this ministry is available to all co-ops across the state and (hopefully soon) nationwide. We were at our local homeschool co-op’s back-to-school night, but it is not a ministry just for them…it is for all homeschoolers and new teachers.
Our First Event (the one where we have to drastically downsize due to no building availability yet…..)
We love hearing comments like this!!!!!!
These are our busy little bees!
They used to go work up at the Book Samaritan with us twice a year, helping the owners to organize books and keep things in order.
Then, in the summer of 2016, they moved 65 truckloads of books…stacked from side to side, floor to as high as they could safely go. These were some tired little puppies, but I think they deserve a lot of credit (hence the trip to Medieval Times) for helping to get the Book Shack up and going.
We also had a few helpers from our local co-op, who could come for a day and help move things around. All told, it took four weeks to move items from the Book Samaritan in Pawhuska, Oklahoma down to our new home in Prague, Oklahoma.
And then we found out that our 501(c)3 wasn’t coming through. We lost our new home and had to immediately downsize (just like if you were foreclosed upon) – losing 95% of the items we had managed to salvage. It was a bad week…
Well, it was a long week for us. It was a good week for the 100+ families that we were able to help in our big “homeschoolers helping homeschoolers” event!!
Following that, we had some health issues to deal with, while at the same time continuing to get all of the paperwork straightened out. We’ve also spruced up the website a little bit – adding tabs across the top of the page that will answer many of your questions.
Now that it’s come to fruition, can you imagine just how happy these little faces are about knowing that their Spring Break will be spent doing none other than……………….moving books? 😯
Let’s give a hand for our very best helpers!!!
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at…that would be our 501(c)3 non-profit status letter.
They say that ”it takes money to make money,” but the truth is that it takes money to help other people, too. As much as we’d like to never have to ask for donations and financial support, that’s just not realistic. Therefore, after much debate, we found a few ways that will allow you to support the Book Shack without having to stretch your budget even further.
Where do these donations go?
They are used for :
boxes & packing material
packing tape
blank paper & shipping labels
light bulbs
bookshelves
staples, clips & other binding materials
*postage for recipients
(*= We are currently unable to offer this, due to having no operating costs at this time. See policies for more information on how postage is currently being covered.)
They have been so wonderful to help us as we get started and continue to work to get this organization up and running smoothly!
If you’re in Oklahoma or NW Arkansas, you should definitely check them out for this semester’s materials.
About BiblioMania
The store
was founded in Tulsa, OK, in 1992, and is a unique source for gently used homeschooling materials on consignment. With dozens of years of homeschooling experience under their belts, the ladies who run the store have a wealth of information and encouragement, and will cheerfully answer your homeschooling curriculum questions! (They’ll also provide hugs and strength when you’re ready to throw in the towel.)
Visiting
If you’re going to visit the store, be aware that it’s in the back corner of a strip mall. It looks something like the pic on the right. Here is their contact information :
12929 E 21st St Suite I
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Phone : (918) 438-9889
Our little helpers loaded up even MORE books and were ready for a rest on the long ride home! I think that they, more than anyone else, will be happy when the organization has a permanent home and the boxes no longer need to be lugged around! LOL
We’re having a fundraiser this weekend….and it’s going to be HUGE! We’re talking seven truckloads of items….from several different houses….so you know there’ll be something for everyone! Come on out….bring your friends & family….and if you have an hour or two, sit a spell and take a volunteer shift. AND we made the paper. It’s been a busy week! 😊
After over fourteen long months of dragging books around and storing them in garages, we have finally found a home for the Book Shack!
Wings as Eagles Christian bookstore, in Prague, has graciously offered us a space above their store to use. It is upstairs, so be prepared. If you have a physical disability, we will work with you to get you the materials you need.
To find the Book Shack, look for the Wings as Eagles store – on the corner of Hwy 99 and 9th Street – then look for the antique-barred door just to the right. That’s where you’ll enter! Head upstairs to Room C, and come on in! (Moving to Shawnee as of April 2019)
We received some VERY big donations last week, which is AMAZING!!! We are so grateful for the community of folks who are working together to help each other out. 😃
Within these donations were many items that are more appropriate for a classroom setting, including math manipulatives, games, classroom reproducibles, classroom posters, reading books (like for a classroom library), and a few other things that are more appropriate for classrooms than homeschool.
These items are still available for any of our homeschool families that come to visit (though they cannot be mailed, as they cannot go media mail rate), but we have such a surplus, and these are the types of things that classroom teachers need for their classrooms, so we decided to partner up with the local school district and invite public school teachers to come and pick out items that they need for their classrooms.
On Monday and Wednesday of our July opening dates, both homeschool and classroom teachers will be able to visit the Shack to ‘treasure hunt.’ Depending on how well this event goes, we may open up the Shack to teachers again next summer.
First-time homeschoolers generally try to replicate public school at home. It’s what they know, and it’s familiar. Trust me…many mommas have gone down this road before!
Learning to re-frame the day, however, is the first step toward homeschool freedom. When you understand and accept that there is considerable learning value is almost everything you do, it relaxes your attitude toward school…which transfers to your students…and makes for a more enjoyable experience.
How to re-frame?
First, learn the lingo.
Does your child understand something? Wonderful! They have ‘comprehension.’
If you quiz your child on his ABCs, does he know them? Great! He just passed an ‘assessment.’
Second, master documentation.
Say your elementary student spent two hours outside, skipping rope, playing with sidewalk chalk, catching bugs and examining them, and making leaf prints. That’s physical education, art (or handwriting, depending on what was drawn), science, and nature study!
Baking cookies together as part of holiday preparations? This activity has math (measurement and time), chemistry, reading, home economics, and nutrition lessons!
We’re not suggesting that everyday consist of this type of schooling, though there are families who do ascribe to this theory – it’s called Unschooling, and you can learn more about it here.
The point is that each day doesn’t need to consist of books, papers, and pencils to ensure that learning is happening. When children are excited about something, they’re sure to learn and retain more!
Thanks for stopping by. This is Sammy the Web guy 🙂 and we are currently under construction here. So mind the mess 🙂 as I dig through and get something everyone can enjoy and use. So keep checking back as things will continue to evolve and grow.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars! This Wednesday is the grand re-opening for the Book Shack, along with the Homeschool House learning co-op, in Shawnee.
However, we are able to secure a place up in the city every so often to hijack their net for those live streaming classes.
After polling several homeschooling families on what they thought was the one must-read book for high school girls, we’ve put together a list of thirty-two books that all girls should read in middle and high school. They include old classics and new favorites, and have lots of character-building lessons, too! Parents should always preview books first….many of these are only appropriate at the high school level.
